Spend any time with Karl, and one of the things you’ll find out is that he doesn’t settle for status quo. Armed with a natural sense of curiosity and a passion for helping people solve problems, he’s led AWE down a path of continual reinvention of products and services with a singular purpose: instilling in children a love of learning.

This same mindset and approach is exactly what led to the founding of AWE. He recalls that while working for Fortune 500 companies in information technology for over a decade was challenging, he was left with a feeling that it just really wasn’t for him. Ever the entrepreneurial spirit, he turned to colleagues Steve Russell and Bill Hoffner. Together, they created AWE out of a desire to help librarians with technology solutions. From this simple auspice, they saw an even greater customer need and responded with the Early Literacy Station, AWE's flagship product. As an educator who also previously taught and coached high school students, Karl is keenly aware of how AWE can help improve education globally. He believes the key to doing this is by using technology to "replicate one of the most effective instructional models: a single tutor for each child."

Karl brings to AWE over 25 years of experience as an IT manager and educator. Under his leadership for the past decade, the organization has successfully delivered major strategic initiatives and technology solutions for libraries, schools, and social service organizations throughout the world. Karl has earned degrees in Computer Science, Education, and Business from the University of Pennsylvania.

Bill Hoffner leads a team of developers in designing best-in-class solutions for AWE's customers. In this rapidly changing world, that means he needs to ensure they're all up-to-speed on emerging technologies and capabilities. It's this ongoing challenge of remaining current that drew him to IT in the first place. "Tech changes, environmental factors, and people's expectations change too—rapidly. Finding the right combination in a solution that works is what I really enjoy." 

As a founder of AWE, Bill is credited with creating the technology behind the company’s first products. The Early Literacy Station product was developed in direct response to a need AWE identified in libraries. He recalls, "Libraries were struggling with how to keep computer workstations up and available for children. Most of time they weren't successful for a variety of reasons, including some basic ones such as a lack of Internet connection and technical support.” In response, he led the development of the first Early Literary Station model for the Free Public Library of Philadelphia. And the rest, as they say, is history. "When I go into libraries, no matter where I am in the country, I get a great sense of personal satisfaction to see kids learning via our products and enjoying themselves.”

Bill brings over 25 years of progressive technical excellence to AWE, including experience as consultant of technical expertise to a wide variety of clients from libraries to non-profits. Bill leads the technical product development of all of AWE's products.

As a founder of AWE, Steve has been charged with many different roles and responsibilities at AWE over the past two decades. His favorite? The experience of working with a dynamic and creative team to shape and build a product with tremendous value to the end user. He explains, "I enjoy the process of discovering what customers are really looking for in a product, trying to resolve issues around it, and then delivering a great, quality solution to meet those needs. There's great satisfaction in finding the customer happy with what we've provided them."

Thus, it's perfectly logical that Steve currently serves as AWE's Chief Customer Officer, interacting with all internal groups to build a unified customer centric focus for the organization. From those who write code to customer support staff, Steve is charged with helping keep AWE focused on delivering a positive customer experience. And while he's not directly on the front lines of customer support as much as he once was, he’s still heavily involved. "For years, the 1-800 help-desk line ran directly to my cell phone. We're not that small anymore, but I still do whatever I can for customers, whenever needed. I still interact directly with them often."

Steve has over three decades of information systems experience in all aspects of the technology industry. Steve has worked for market leaders including SmithKline Beecham, Sun Company, SUNGuard Data Systems, Wang Laboratories, and Digital Equipment Corporation.

When AWE had a desire to expand their international business, they turned to Mike Swink. What they tapped into is years of international experience, technology expertise, and know-how for getting things done. The native Texan is good at making things work, a talent he has called upon from his earliest years as a child building transmitters and receivers for his ham radio to more recent years establishing operations for a security software business in Malaysia.

For the maker of a homegrown radio transmitter, having the opportunity to learn software programming on one of the first large-scale commercial computers in the world at the University of Kansas was a pivotal moment that sparked a deep interest in software, computers, electrical engineering, and technology. It was also during this time that he found a deep appreciation for global cultures, through a multi-year Western Civilization class. In later years, he would work and travel to 52 countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. A dedicated lifelong learner himself, Mike joined AWE based on the strength of its product and mission. "I believe we have a fundamental solution to current early education problems, providing computer-assisted individualized learning that harnesses a child's natural curiosity and enthusiasm to build lifelong learning skills. I'm excited to be a part of that because learning has always been an important component of my life, too."

Mike has over 25 years of experience with innovative high-growth software technology companies, including roles as COO and CEO. He has successfully commercialized technology in seven new markets, most recently with an international financial-transaction software start-up that was sold to Citigroup in 2007. Mike earned a BSEE in Computer Science and a BA in Mathematics from the University of Kansas, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

When Michael Mok received a call about an opportunity to lead the sales effort with AWE, the response to his request to engage with their product included good news and bad news. The bad news: he'd have to travel from his home in Detroit to find one up close and personal. But the good news: as he sat in a library in a kid's seat with his knees up to his chin, he found a product that was fun and exciting. He remembers it was also in demand too: "A youngster actually turned to me and said 'hurry up mister.' Clearly, the product was a winner." Today, Michigan ranks among one of the best states to find AWE products.

Mike's background is one that has prepared him to understand many of the practical challenges facing AWE's customers. When his father died as a teen, Mike put himself through college by working at a men’s clothing store. After graduation, much to Mike’s surprise, the owner offered him a partnership. The experience prepared him to intimately understand various aspects of running a growing operation as well as leading a team toward a common goal. After selling the business and traveling a bit, he turned to sales in educational publishing, a natural fit due to an interest he developed in teaching during college. Today, he brings this knowledge and skills in sales to coach AWE sales account executives. 

Mike has over two decades of sales and management experience in the library and education markets. He has played a sales leadership role with industry giants R.R. Bowker and the Gale Group. He serves on the board of Friends of Michigan Libraries and is actively involved in several divisions of the American Library Association, including American Association of School Libraries (AASL), Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC), and the Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends, and Foundations (ALTAFF). A certified trainer, Mike holds a degree in Business from Eastern Michigan University. 

For many onlookers, Barker Davis lived the dream life. He traveled the world as a sports writer for major publications. For 15 years he reported on some of the most magnificent moments and personalities in sports. He won awards. But he found himself facing a moral dilemma: "I was spending all my time and energy glorifying people who could hit a 20-foot jump shot or sink a putt. I had this gnawing feeling that these things really weren't important. Plus, my kids were getting older and I was missing out on things." 

In the meantime, the father of three couldn't help but notice something was amiss with the education system. This led to a conversation with Karl Thornton, who was seeking assistance with his important duty of evaluating educational content for AWE's products. Barker recalls: "It really occurred to me that it would be much more interesting to 'report for' AWE and to forge relationships that would impact millions of children. The impact of inspired early learning can be far reaching and meaningful."

Barker joined AWE in 2010 and is responsible for strengthening the organization's product content and business development through strategic partnerships and collaborations.  A native of Tennessee, he graduated from Georgetown University and was an award-winning journalist for the Washington Times and a regular columnist for the London Sunday Telegraph.